Once you’ve narrowed down your list to a few schools that align with your needs, reach out to their admissions teams with any questions you have. (You can easily connect with them through the school’s website!) 

Whenever possible, visit the campus in person, attend a virtual tour or join an information session. Each school has its own unique charm, environment and overall feeling—you may think you found the perfect school on paper, but nothing beats experiencing it firsthand! 

The application process has a lot of moving parts, especially if you’re applying to more than one boarding school. Start by gathering all of the deadlines for each school you’re looking to apply to. (Tip: most schools have a February 1 admissions deadline, but that may vary depending on the school!) Each school’s website has all of their deadline information, as well as a list of the required application materials.

The majority of schools now use an online application, which they will be able to provide you the link to.

Many schools require educational tests prior to admission, like the Secondary School Admission Test (SSAT) or the Independent School Entrance Examination (ISEE).

If you’re an international student, you may also be asked to provide English proficiency test scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language Junior (TOEFL Junior).

Be sure to contact the admission office of the boarding schools you’re interested in to determine exactly what tests they require.

(Don’t worry if you haven’t taken these before—there are many prep courses and sample tests available online, like here!)

The interview is one of the most important parts of the application process. At the interview, a representative of the school’s admissions team will meet with you to learn more about your skills, your interests and what you’re looking for in a school. But they’re not just interviewing you—you’ll also have the chance to ask any questions that you have about the school.

If you’re able to attend the interview in person, you’ll also get a chance to see the school up close, and explore what makes it so special. 

Many boarding schools offer financial aid and scholarships to help families afford tuition. Be sure to ask early and check each school’s deadlines and requirements, since these can vary quite a bit.

After submitting your application, schools will review everything and let you know their decision. In general, admissions committees will render one of four decisions on the application:

‍Admit: Woo-hoo! You are accepted!

‍Defer: The school is interested in admitting you, but probably has some concerns about grades. They may want to see another set of grades before they make their final decision. Call the school to clarify your status.

‍Waitlist: The school wants to admit you, but they don’t have room just yet. Many schools create a waitlist of qualified candidates in case a student who was enrolled decides to not attend. In this event, students at the top of the waitlist are offered admission. Call the school to clarify your status and get an understanding of their timeline.

‍Denied: The school has decided not to admit you. While it’s not the decision you hoped for, there are many other schools that will hopefully work out well.